Crypto Funds Half of North Korea’s Nuclear Weapons: Report

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Alex Dovbnya

A recent Wall Street Journal report revealed that North Korea, in a brazen show of cyber-sophistication, has used cybercriminals to steal more than $3 billion in cryptocurrency over the past five years.

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North Korea allegedly employed cybercriminals to amass more than $3 billion in cryptocurrency over the past five years, according to a Wall Street Journal report.

These stolen funds are believed to fund around half of the reclusive nation’s nuclear program. The exact status of their nuclear program, including the number of nuclear weapons they possess and the sophistication of those weapons, is not publicly available due to the secretive nature of the North Korean state.

The complex operation sees hackers posing as tech workers or job recruiters, with blockchain gaming companies such as Sky Mavis as their targets, from which more than $600 million were allegedly stolen in one single robbery.

In 2022, Lazarus, a hacking group linked to the North Korean state by the US Treasury Department, was implicated in a massive cryptocurrency heist involving the Ronin network. This network supports the popular blockchain game, Axie Infinity, and saw over $600 million worth of ether and USDC tokens stolen in the attack. This hack is one of many major cyberattacks associated with Lazarus, including the Sony Pictures hack in 2014 and the infamous WannaCry ransomware attacks in 2017.

According to US allegations, North Korea has amassed a shadow workforce of computer operatives scattered across multiple countries who routinely collaborate with the regime’s cybercrime operations.

The technical sophistication of North Korea’s cyber operations appears to be increasing, as evidenced by their successful execution of large-scale flights and advanced cyber maneuvers.

In response to these illicit activities, the US Treasury Department issued sanctions against Tornado Cash, a “mixer” accused of helping hackers, including those in North Korea, launder the proceeds of their cybercrimes. The Lazarus Group alone is said to have funneled at least $455 million through the service.

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